The Pearson Room, Canary Wharf

As a nearby resident, Canary Wharf doesn’t immediately inspire many great restaurant choices, or, indeed, bars. Despite the wealth and shiny high rise silver, the offer here for the post-work crowd is limited compared to other parts of the capital.

Eventually you suspect this is going to change, with a ready-made audience and the steady rise in the competitive restaurant scene. And perhaps The Pearson Room represents a part of that change.

The first solo venture of Zagat 30 under 30 award-winner and Trishna sommelier, Sunaina Sethi, this restaurant and bar is just the ticket.

With so much choice in London it can often be surprising how challenging it is to think of that just right restaurant for certain occasions. The Pearson Room is a delight that will work for any situation and always hit the mark, whether that’s a date, dinner with friends, taking the parents out or a business lunch.

This doesn’t make it bland, but rather its interior is a pleasing mix of elegant, modern retro furniture: think 60s mad men home furnishings with oranges, browns and teals, but all set in a dramatic high ceilinged glass wonder that you would expect from Canary Wharf and overlooking Canada Square.

It’s also not banker priced, with main dishes coming in on average between £15 and £20.

The food is good. Everything we had was reliably tasty with some stand out dishes like the chicken wings with chilli, grilled spring onions and pickled ginger, which has a wonderful balance of flavours with just a subtle kick.

Some of the dishes read like an impressive and delicious ingredients list, like the colourful huevos rojos, duck egg, chorizo, fried potatoes, padron pepper, tiger prawns and parsley.

The menu reflects the varied interests of the team behind the restaurant, but across the sharing plates and signature dishes, there is a particularly strong Brazilian influence from the Head Chef, Vagenr Matos.

My guest and I are totally seduced by the specials though. A steak with a simple green salad and cherry tomatoes and a beautifully cooked fillet of cod with buttery crushed potatoes and spinach.

My guest horrified me by ordering his steak ‘well done’, which the delightful French waitress took down without so much as a blink, while I sadly reflected on how my plan to steal half his dinner was spoiled.

This was followed by a cherry sundae – no scrimping on portions here – and the delicious hot chocolate fondant with bang on trend peanut butter ice cream.

In short, The Pearson Room offers a solid and dependable choice with enough style and flair to ensure that it’s not just a good restaurant and bar for Canary Wharf, but a great new addition for London.

Tip: If you’re not looking for food, don’t forget to check out the large square bar with teal leather high chairs where you can enjoy a cocktail and the view.

Share This

3 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *